Lion City

Lion City tells the extraordinary story of Singapore - the world's most successful city state.

In 1965, Singapore's GDP per capita was on a par with Jordan. Now it has outstripped Japan. After the Second World War and a sudden rupture with newly formed Malaysia, Singapore found itself independent - and facing a crisis. It took the bloody-minded determination and vision of Lee Kuan Yew, its founding premier, to take a small island of diverse ethnic groups with a fragile economy and hostile neighbours and meld it into Asia's first globalised city.

Jeevan Vasagar, former Singapore correspondent for the Financial Times, masterfully takes us through the intricate history, present and future of this unique diamond-shaped island one degree north of the equator, where new and old have remained connected. Lion City is a personal, insightful and essential guide to the city, and how its remarkable rise is shaping East Asia and the rest of the world.

“Unexpectedly moving...a good introduction for the general reader suddenly turns to questions of love, grief, deceit and identity - The TLSVasagar gives Singapore a fair-and detailed-shake - Asian Review of Books”

Unexpectedly moving...a good introduction for the general reader suddenly turns to questions of love, grief, deceit and identity -- Sholto Byrnes The TLS
Vasagar gives Singapore a fair-and detailed-shake Asian Review of Books
A comprehensive look at the sleek city-state that strongman Lee Kuan Yew forged into a model society of authority and order. Kirkus Reviews
[An] enlightening look at how Singapore has become what it is today. Washington Independent Review of Books

Jeevan Vasagar was Singapore and Malaysia correspondent for the Financial Times from 2015 to 2017, travelling the region to report on demands for political reform, the rise of digital businesses and the growing influence of China. He is now Environment Editor for The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, based in London. Prior to joining the FT, he reported for the Guardian for twelve years, including spells as east Africa correspondent and education editor. Lion City is his first book.

He can be found on Twitter: @jeevanvasagar

Lion City tells the extraordinary story of Singapore - the world's most successful city state. In 1965, Singapore's GDP per capita was on a par with Jordan. Now it has outstripped Japan. After the Second World War and a sudden rupture with newly formed Malaysia, Singapore found itself independent - and facing a crisis. It took the bloody-minded determination and vision of Lee Kuan Yew, its founding premier, to take a small island of diverse ethnic groups with a fragile economy and hostile neighbours and meld it into Asia's first globalised city.Jeevan Vasagar, former Singapore correspondent for the Financial Times , masterfully takes us through the intricate history, present and future of this unique diamond-shaped island one degree north of the equator, where new and old have remained connected. Lion City is a personal, insightful and essential guide to the city, and how its remarkable rise is shaping East Asia and the rest of the world.

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